Here is the entire schedule for 2017 with Bryant at home again this year

Football Announces 2017 Schedule1/18/2017 | FootballORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine football team has announced its 2017 schedule which kicks off with a season-opening matchup at New Hampshire on Saturday, Sept. 2. It will be the first-time in 25 years (1992) that the two Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and border rivals will open the season against each other.

In Coach Harasymiak's second season at the helm, the Black Bears will host five home games. During the 2016 season, Maine set numerous attendance records including: total attendance, average attendance and a single-game high when it welcomed 10,443 Black Bear fans to the homecoming game against UAlbany.

Maine will host Bryant on Saturday, Sept. 9 in its home opener. Following the bye week, Maine will begin a three-game road trip, starting with a trip to meet the defending Football Championship Subdivison (FCS) national champion James Madison Dukes on Sept. 23.

The first of two Football Bowl Subdivision games for the Black Bears will take place on Sept. 30 when Maine heads to Orlando to play the University of Central Florida. Central Florida, of the American Conference, is coming off a 6-7 season which ended with a 31-13 loss to Arkansas St. in the Autonation Cure Bowl. It will be the third meeting between the two teams with UCF with previous meetings coming in 1994 and 1995.

Maine will close the road trip with a visit to Villanova on Oct. 7. In 2016, the Wildcats finished 9-4 after earning a trip to the NCAA Second Round.

The Black Bears return to Alfond Stadium to host Rhode Island on homecoming weekend (Oct. 14). Maine will be playing its 96th game against Rhode Island and have won 10-straight against the Rams.

Maine returns to the road on Oct. 21 as it looks to make it three-straight wins over UAlbany.

Following the meeting with the Great Danes, Maine returns home for a pair of contests at Alfond Stadium. The Black Bears will host William & Mary on Oct. 28 before taking on Delaware on Nov. 4. Maine defeated both teams on the road a year ago.

The second of two FBS contests takes place on Nov. 11 when Maine travels to historic Fenway Park to meet UMass. Maine, which will be making its first appearance at Fenway Park for a football game, looks for its second-straight win over UMass after besting the Minutemen 24-14 back in 2013 at Gillette Stadium in the program's second-ever win over an FBS opponent.

The Black Bears close out the 2017 regular season at home on Nov. 18 when it meets Stony Brook. Maine holds a 4-2 advantage in its all-time series with the Seawolves and have won each of the past two contests.2017 UMaine Football ScheduleDATE OPPONENTSept. 2 at New Hampshire*Sept. 9 BRYANTSept. 23 at James Madison*Sept. 30 at Central FloridaOct. 7 at Villanova*Oct. 14 RHODE ISLAND*Oct. 21 at UAlbany*Oct. 28 WILLIAM & MARY*Nov. 4 DELAWARE*Nov. 11 vs. UMass^Nov. 18 STONY BROOK*Home games in CAPS* - Denotes CAA contest^ - Game to be played at Fenway Park

This is pretty brutal. Obviously the conference opponents change and balance out over time but this is a really tough stack. Also starting on the road for four of the first five with absolutely no cupcakes is horrendous. Might be looking at a 1-4 start (assuming we handle the Bulldogs). Then need to run the table to make the playoffs.

With that said, let's put on our optimistic hats and hope we can knock off 2-3 of the CAA opponents on the early schedule and have a great year.

thebam wrote:1 home game before October 14. .. this team better win if they want to make any money.

That's kinda piss-poor scheduling by the CAA...not only sending a team on the road for their first 3 conference games, but the 3 (UNH, JMU & 'Nova) are arguably the top 3 programs in the conference.

I know some like to complain about a perceived scheduling bias against Maine but I don't choose to believe in that. However, if I were Maine, I would be livid about this. I know you are going to have to play those guys all on the road during the season, but there should never be a reason why a team would have to open the with 3 straight conference games on the road, especially when you only play 8 conference games in the first place.

Pessimist or optimist. It's time to beat UNH , we are right there with them. Need to be 2-0, get the bye week and win one of the next three. That will be the toughest part of the schedule, JMU, graduated 14 seniors and Abdullah but Schor the QB is back, UCF and Villanova. This should make for a great spring, looking forward to the Blue-White game already

fafan wrote:Pessimist or optimist. It's time to beat UNH , we are right there with them. Need to be 2-0, get the bye week and win one of the next three. That will be the toughest part of the schedule, JMU, graduated 14 seniors and Abdullah but Schor the QB is back, UCF and Villanova. This should make for a great spring, looking forward to the Blue-White game already

You've pretty much laid it out. It's time to beat UNH....period. Quite frankly, I'd rather play them the first game of the year than the last. They get better as the season goes on.....the sign of a good coach. This will allow Southern Maine fans to see the team without travelling very far and the rest of us can plan a weekend at the beach, in Portland, etc and go see the game as well! Will be a great Labor Day weekend!